Things to do in Cockington

Cockington is a beautiful village close to Torquay in the heart of South Devon’s stunning English Riviera – it’s a delight to visit all year round.  Take a walk back in time along Cockington’s narrow lanes, lined with thatched houses and you’ll experience a quiet charm that is quintessentially English. Or take a horse and carriage ride around the grounds of Cockington Court.  Everything about Cockington oozes with history – there’s a water mill, a forge and even the cricket pitch was once a medieval deer park.  It’s an unforgettable place to stay and perfect for romantic breaks and dog-friendly family holidays.  And Torquay with its sandy beaches, huge range of attractions, buzzing restaurants, shops, theatres and bars is right on your doorstep.

The Historic Heart

At the heart of this lovely Devon village is Cockington Court, a 16th century manor house surrounded by hundreds of acres of gorgeous country park. Enjoy an idyllic stroll around the beautiful Norman church, the arboretum, the recently restored lakes, Gamekeepers Cottage and the renovated water mill.  Stroll back through the park and cricket green.  Cockington Country Park has received the prestigious Keep Britain Tidy, Green Flag Award, an accolade which it has retained 25 times since its launch, one of only 5 sites in the whole of the UK to do so.  The Green Flag Award is given for high environmental standards, being beautifully maintained and having excellent visitor facilities. It’s heaven in Devon for dog owners with lots of places for your pooch to run and explore.  

Arts and Crafts

Today, Devon’s Cockington Court is a hub for art and crafts and in the hugely popular contemporary craft centre you’ll find delightful working studios with all kinds of artists in creative mode. These include a chocolate maker, glassblower, blacksmith, jewellers, ceramicists, wood turner, leather crafter, textile artist, mosaicist, painter, flower designer, print maker and more.  You can browse, buy, meet and chat to the makers and even take courses such as becoming a chocolatier for a morning. 

Artizans within Cockington include:

Torbay Gin - A micro distillery in the heart of Cockington village, Torquay produces a growing range of award winning gins.  Following the successful launch of Torbay Gin, their distinctive blue signature gin, they embarked on a journey to create a product that would not only stand out but also resonate with our coastal locale.

Chocolate Heaven Made in Devon are delighted to now have a shop in Cockington Court and to bring chocolate back to Cockington. They use the finest quality continental chocolate and also use locally sourced ingredients as much as possible

Chrystine Jones is a UNESCO ambassador artist for The English Riviera Geopark and specialises in creating art and jewellery from pewter using a unique process to produce colours in the metal. More recently, Chrystine has been joined in the studio by Darren Jones, who specialises in enamelled and artisan jewellery. 

Dandelions and Pearls Introducing Lynsey from Dandelions and Pearls, a designer, pattern cutter, dressmaker and just about everything in between offering exquisite, style focused and bespoke bridal and occasion wear with a focus on boho and vintage inspired styles.

Flower La Vita - Specialising in both dried wedding flowers along with funeral and sympathy flowers, Vita creates beautiful, unique creations and welcomes customers into her picture-perfect studio which is bursting with colour and of course flowers! 

Gaff Interiors & Upholstery - Justin Roach started his journey in fashion and shoe design and it was building on this leather and sewing skills, that led him to his forte in upholstery. Fast forward and you’ll find the thriving Gaff Interiors, producing exceptionally crafted, bespoke products for customers locally and further afield. 

James Murch James’s portraits and Landscapes have been recognised by the Royal Society and a passion for plein air painting saw him reach the semi-finals of Landscape Artist of the Year 2019. Through his studio, James interacts with visitors, offering insights into his approach and conducting art classes. 

Janet Ventre is a talented mosaic artist creating beautiful works to exhibit and sell. , Janet creates a range of beautiful mosaics covering an extensive portfolio from mirrors and coasters, to pictures. You can watch Janet at work at her studio and see some of the pieces being created which are exhibited and sold from her studio.

JOX Jewellery - creating a welcoming and beautifully calm space where you can come and browse our handcrafted silver and gold jewellery.  Being a Devon Girl, the inspiration is all around; the designs are interpretation of the beautiful coast and countryside. We are always happy to discuss bespoke commissions. 

MooBoo Home create beautiful bespoke handcrafted lighting and home furnishings. They create unique pieces of home decor with a contemporary take on vintage styles.  

British Sculptor Nicola Axe creates bespoke stone sculptures for the home and garden. Nicola uses Portland limestone for her abstract and figurative work which is contemplative and meditative, inspired by the sculptors Modigliani and Brancusi. A fascination for Asian Buddhist art also influences the visions and meanings in her work. 

Nicola Cox: Costume and Fashion Designer - After spending many years working in London in both the fast fashion sector and in costume design for theatres, Nicola is now excited to be using her skills to create bespoke fashion pieces that are lovingly designed and created. 

Our Glass - A wide selection of original, imaginatively coloured glassware, using traditional (Roman) glassmaking skills and techniques. Every piece is unique. “We are open every day – come and watch the fascinating glassmaking processes and buy directly from us”.

Rex Latham is an award-winning blacksmith who has practiced his trade for over three decades. A traditional blacksmith, he particularly enjoys the challenges of restoration and conservation as well as embracing bespoke and contemporary commissions. Beautiful hand-forged items traditionally made at our forge in the heart of Cockington. 

SoaperSudz – soap handmade in Paignton.  Creating beautifully simple and functional handmade soaps showcasing natures gifts by using quality natural oils (coconut, olive, sunflower, castor), cocoa butter, pure essential oils and botanicals. They do not use fragrance oils, colours or toppings.  All our soaps are vegan, non-animal tested, totally natural and plastic and palm free.